20 BIFF, 15 MILF fighters killed in encounters with gov’t troops

An official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Sunday said that at least 20 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and 15 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) menbers have so far been killed as a result of previous clashes in the so-called “SPMS box” or the adjoining towns of Shariff Aguak, Pagatin (Datu Piang), Mamasapano and Salibo.in Maguindanao province

Captain Arvin Encinas, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the casualty figure was based on information provided by sources on the ground.

He said just last Friday, a firefight also transpired in the area which reportedly resulted in the death of a still unidentified MILF commander.

Encinas said operations are still ongoing to flush out the BIFF fighters from the area.

“Hanggang ngayon ongoing pa rin iyung operation pero hindi siya arawaraw na nagkakaroon ng firefight. The last time na nagkaroon ng firefight is last Friday kung saan meron namang isang MILF leader ang namatay. Iyun na iyung pinakahuli last Friday, 12:20 ng tanghali (Up to this time operations are still ongoing but it’s not every day that there is a firefight. The last time that there was a firefight was last Friday wherein an MILF leader was killed. That’s the last, it happened at 12:20 p.m.),” Encinas said.

“Nitong Sababo at Liggo wala pang mga reported na mga incident na nagkaroon uli ng bakbakan (This Saturday and Sunday we have not received any report that a firefight took place),” he added.

Encinas said since fighting erupted last August 2, government troops provided artillery fire support and air support against the enemy.

“Meron din tayong ginagamit na armor assets natin. Andun din iyung ating tropa as a forward observer na kapag nagre-render tayo ng indirect fire support, andoon iyung tropa natin nagbibigay ng direction kung saan ipapatama yung 105 (howitzer) natin,” Encinas said.

“Actually ano naman kasi ito, joint operation ito. May effort tayo sa certain areas, sa ibang municipalities na posibleng withdrawal route nitong mga grupo na ito. Bago inilunsad itong operation may coordination, actually joint talaga siya. May effort tayo sa ibang municipalities within SPMS Box at adjacent areas, within dun sa pinaka-main battle area kasi ng BIFF at saka MILF iyung Datu Salibu, particularly dyan sa Brgy. Tee, Brgy. Andavit. Doon kasi nagtatago itong grupo ni Abu Toraype,” he said.

Encinas said despite the fighting, they don’t expect any spillover of it to other areas. He also clarified that the fighting is not a spillover of the ongoing conflict in Marawi City.